Improvement in cartridge-boxes



`2 Sheets--Sheet l."

w. H. ELLluT. Gartridge-Boxes..

Patented )une 17,

NQ* lv395885a- AM P/foro-L/rnasmfmc ca Ndwsamvf's Pao cess) NITED STATES WILLIAM E. ELLIOT, OE ILION, NEW YORK] IMPROVEMENT IN CARTRIDGE-BOXES.

Specification forming part, of Letters Patent No. 1139, S85, dated June 17, 1873;` application led May 1, 1813. i

4of NewYork; have invented a new and Improved Cartridge-Box; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and

exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings making part of this specification, in which- Figure 1, Plate 1, is a front view ofthe car-` tridge-box without the straps and belt. Fig. 2, Plate 1, is a diametrical section through thel same, enlarged. Fig. 3, Plate l, is a back view of the same. Fig. 4, Plate 2, is a back view of the cartridge-box with. its straps and belt attached. Fig. 5, Plate 2, is a sectional view in detail, showing the sliding `guard at the mouth of the cartridge-box.

This invention relates to certain novel im` provements `in cartridge-boxes, -wherein are employed 4a radially-tubular holder for the cartridges; .and myimprovements consist, first, in constructing such cartridge-holders of two radially-corrugated plates, tted together and revolving within an outer case or frame, whereby radial receptacles are provided for the cartridges, and great Ystrength is secured. This construction also resists penetrationof balls after the balls have passed through the outer covering, and it has a tendency to change the direction of such balls on account of the case i revolving by the force of the balls. Second, in

so constructing such boxes that two series or circles of receptacles for cartridges are formed, one or both of which are inclined obliquely to the plane of its revolution,and the angle at which these receptacles are placed is such that the heads of one circle of cartridges come in between the heads of the other circle, so as to form a single circle of heads while the balls form two circles around the center. The object of thus arranging the receptacles is, first, to place the requisite number of cartridges inV the smallest possible space; second, to cause the heads of both series of cartridges to pass under a guard of suchjnarrow proportion that the body of the cartridge under the guard may be seized by the thumb and finger applied to both sides of its Vouter end. To accomplish this the cartridge-heads need not be brought into a perfect line, but the nearer theyare in line the greater the facility of grasping them y while under the guard. Neither is it neces- .sary that both circles should be inclined to the plane fof revolution. One circle may be in said plane, while the other is sufficiently inclined to produce the required arrangementviz., two rows of balls and one row of heads.

made a stop or labutment for the cartridges to strike against, the outer case having combined with ita stop-pawli `and sprin g, which stops the backward movement of the cartridge-holder after it has beenrevolved by the withdraw- '1 al of a cartridge; it also, acting as a frictionpawl, opposes, to a certain extent, the forward movement of the holder. y This stop-pawl need not necessarily be composed of a pawl and spring; it may be a spring-pawl, or a frictionspring would serve the same purpose. The outer case also has combined `with it a guard which projects partly over the mouth, which,

while it holds the cartridge under it in the receptacle, allows the cartridge to be seized by the thumb and inger for the purpose of bring-` ing it by a rotary movement to a part of the mouth, where it may be withdrawn by a radial movement. Fourth, it consists in an adjustable guard on an outer case, whereby the mouth of theLOuter case or frame is partlyclosed, and u but one cartridge allowed to be removed at a time, and whereby the cartridge under the guard may be seizedby the nger and thumb i and Withdrawn by a rotary and radial movement. Fifth, in a stop combined with the guard which draws the stop out of its way to permit the backward movement of the cartridge-holder when the guard is adjusted fori charging the cartridge-box. Sixth, in the combination of a cartridge-box provided with a hook, a connecting and a shoulder or neck strap and a belt, whereby the cartridge-box lnay be attached to the person oithe soldier at different points, withoutat.1 any time necessarily being detached from him.`

The following description of my invention will enable others skilled in the art to understand it.

In the accompanying drawings, A represents a circular frame, which is slightly Wider than the diameter of the butt or head of a cartridge. This frame has secured to it, or is in part composed of, a crucii'orm back plate a, which strengthens and stiftens it, and to which a long hook, B, is secured, for a purpose hereinafter explained. Inside of the frame A, and connected centrally to it by a pivot, c, is a tubular holder, C, which is allowed to rotate about its axis. This holder C is composed of two circular disks, which are radially grooved or corrugated, and secured together so as to form tubular cartridge receptacles f radiating from the axis of the4 holder, and extending from the hub b to the periphery of the holder, as shown in the drawings. For the purpose of having the greatest possible number of cartridge receptacles in a given space these receptacles are inclined laterally, as shown in Fig. 2, so that while their outer open ends are all in the same plane their inner ends are in different planes, like the arrangement of the spokes of some Wheels. I thus have two rows of balls and a single row of butts. I have shown an annular division on the hub b for holding the ball ends of the cartridges t in their places, as shown in Fig. 2, but this is not absolutely necessary. By reference to Fig. lit will be seen that twenty-four cartridge receptacles are provided,whereas with out my peculiar manner of arrangin g these receptacles only half this number could be provided in the same circular space, for the reason that the diameter between the center and the ball-seats is much less than the diameter between the center and head-seats or rim. The frame H is constructed with an opening or mouth for'the insertion of cartridges into the holder C and their removal from it. At this mouth I attach a guard, d, on which is a spring-extension d'.

This guard slides through one end of a V- shaped bridge, g, of the frame and also under a guide e, and its spring-extension bears upon the frame A so that it is held in place by frictional contact, and will remain where it is adjusted. A slight elevation, i, on the frame A will afford additional security against the guard moving back when adjusted over the mouth ofthe frame, and a stop-pin, j, on the guard prevents it from being adjusted too far over said mouth. When the guard is adjusted as shown in Figs. l, 2, and 4, apivoted stoppawl, s, on it is thrown down by a spring, s', (see Fig. 5,) in range with the cartridge-butts and prevents the holder C from turning backward, but allows it turn forward. At the opposite end of the mouth of the frame and forming a part of the mouth is a stop, p, which prevents the holder G from turningY forward, except as the cartridges are removed one at a time from it. The distance between the pawl s and the stop p is such that when one cartrid ge is in a position for removal the succeeding one will be between it and the pawl s and beneath the guard d as shown in Fig. 1. Thus it will be seen that the removal of one cartridge from its holder C instantly brings another into position for removal.

For the purpose of applying my cartridgebox to a person, I employ a neck or shoulderstrap S, a connecting-strap T, and a belt N. The neck or shoulder strap S should be of suficient length to allow the cartridge-box to cover the heart of the person to which it is applied when it is suspended from said strap by means of the back-hook B as shown-in Fig. 4. The cartridge-box, if made suiciently strong, thus serves as a shield and protects a person from injury about the region of the heart. The capability of the cartridge-holder revolving also tends to turn the direction of the balls. When the cartridge-box is not in immediate use it can be unhooked from the neck-strap and hooked upon the belt N without being detached from the person of the soldier, in which position it is most conveniently carried. The strap T passes through the upper endof the hook B, as shown in Fig. 4,0r it may pass through a loop on the cartridge-box. In practice, the cartridge-box will be covered with leather or other suitable material, and a strap and button applied to 1t over its mouth for preventing the first car- Y tridge escaping until it is wanted for use. The holder C may have a friction-spring applied to it to prevent 'it from turning too freely while being charged.

It will be seen from the above description that byv means of the straps and belt the cartridge-box is held flatly against the body in the most convenient position for removing the cartridges, and most important location for protecting the soldier; that is to say, directly over the heart.V It will also be seen that the annular frame or outer case A prevents the cartridges from falling out of the holder, and the guard d also prevents their withdrawal, except at the exposed portion of the mouth.

To charge the holder the guard d is moved back, which throws up the stop-pawl and exposes the full opening of the mouth, and thus allows the holder to be turned backward as the cartridges are introduced into their places.

I will here state that as the mouth of the frame with its guard is one of the features of invention which I claim specially, so far as the frame is concerned it is not material whether the frame bean open or a close sided one.

It is obvious that the pawl s is not necessarily located near the mouth of the frame,

although this is the best position; also that it need not of necessity operate upon the cartridge directly, as it will perform the office required of it by having it to act upon the revolvin g cartridge-holder.

Having described my invention, what `I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

l. The combination, with the frame or outer case, of a circular revolving cartridge-holder formed of two radially corrugated plates,

whereby radial receptacles are provided for the cartridges and great strength is imparted thereto, substantially as described.

2. A rotatory cartridge-box in which the radial cartridge receptacles are inclined to the plane of their revolution, substantially as described and for the purposes specified.

3. A frame or outer case of a revolving-cartridge receptacle in which the mouth is constructed substantially as shown and described, and having combined with it a stop-pawl and guard, whereby the successive cartridges are covered and msecured Within the case, while ready means of withdrawal is afforded by a rotary and radial movement as described.

4. The adjustable guard d, in combination with the outer case or frame A, having a mouth as described, so that the successive cartridges may be covered and secured in the the person of the soldier, substantially as and J for the purpose specified.

WM. H. ELLIOT. Witnesses:

D. LEWIS, O. L. OscooD. 

